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Andrew Fifita to debut for Kangaroos against England in Rugby League World Cup

Updated
Thu 24 Oct 2013, 9:02 AM AEDT

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Andrew Fifita has been selected to debut for the Kangaroos in Australia's Rugby League World Cup opener against England.

Mark Nolan: Getty Images

Cronulla forward Andrew Fifita says making his debut for Australia at the rugby league World Cup feels like a fitting reward for his stellar season.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has announced his team for the tournament-opening clash with England in Cardiff on Sunday morning (AEDT), with Fifita named on an extended bench and set to earn his first international cap.

Sheens' team featured a couple of minor surprises with St George Illawarra's Brett Morris named on the wing ahead of Jarryd Hayne, who is on the six-man bench.

Veteran Brent Tate caps a remarkable comeback from countless injuries after beating Michael Jennings and Josh Morris to line up in the centres alongside Greg Inglis.

Rising prop Fifita, who was outstanding for Cronulla this season and earned a State of Origin call up for New South Wales, says he is "stoked, surprised and very happy" to be making his debut for Australia.

"It just tops off the year that I've had to represent my country," he said.

"Like they say you do your job at club footy, and you do your job at Origin level, and I've been rewarded with this massive gift to represent my country.

"I can't wait to get out there."

Two years ago then Wests Tigers mentor Sheens deemed Fifita surplus to requirements at the club.

The youngster joined the Sharks and has since developed into one of the most feared forwards in the game.

Fifita insists there are no hard feelings between himself and the Kangaroos coach.

"There was no 'get out of my club you've got to go', it was more on good terms," he said before the Kangaroos' first training session at Cardiff.

"It was just that they couldn't fit me in their salary cap."

Fifita says to be coached by Sheens again is "awesome".

"I know what he's like, what he wants and what he expects, he said.

Tate's long journey back to green and gold

Tate made his international debut against Great Britain back in 2002 but ever since has been plagued by injuries.

In 2010 he feared his representative days were over when struck down by the third serious knee injury of his career in the Four Nations final.

"Obviously I'm stoked to be here," Tate said.

"It has been a long, tough journey. But I'm back here now ... and I also understand that the challenge now is to keep that jersey and stay in this team."

England has suffered a series of setbacks ahead of Sunday's clash.

The co-hosts lost a practice match to Italy and this week dispatched forward Gareth Hock after he reportedly failed to turn up for the squad's camp in Loughborough.